A-Rod Isn't First MLBer To Use Ball To Flirt

Because of their size, color and abundance, baseballs lend themselves better to writing than, say, footballs or basketballs. And over the course of a season, baseball players use balls for a variety of purposes: autographs, messages, and as Alex Rodriguez demonstrated this week, even tools of flirtation.

It was confirmed on Wednesday that the Yankees third baseman did indeed scribble a note on a baseball and pass it along to a few female fans during Game 1 of the ALCS.

Rodriguez's sly move has gained a tremendous amount of attention, but it turns out the slumping slugger isn't the first big leaguer to use a baseball to flirt with a female fan this year.

In late August, Baltimore Orioles reliever Luis Ayala wrote his phone number on a baseball and had it delivered to a woman during batting practice before a game against the Texas Rangers. Deadspin obtained a photo of the ball as well as a transcript of the text conversation that ensued.

The difference between Ayala and Rodriguez? Ayala is married and Rodriguez is not (although A-Rod is dating professional wrestling Torrie Wilson).